John Holder's verdict

1) The ball may have stopped dead but it is still live, so the batsman is out bowled. No member of the fielding side touched it, so this is really no different from the ball coming off the striker's bat or body, then on to the wicket and dislodging the bails. Thanks to Geoffrey Balasoglou. 2) Yes. There is nothing in the laws which forbids the use of branches, even for a Test match. The important thing is that the stumps match the specifications. Not using bails is also permitted, so long as both umpires agree and both captains are aware – it often happens when it is very windy and there are no heavy bails available. Personally I'd be impressed by the ingenuity and desire of the home team to play this great game. There are 42 laws of cricket and we always say that law 43 is to use common sense. And, if this is a friendly match, I would not worry too much if the stumps were not regulation size, either. Play the game! Jo Carroll wins the book. 3) Not out, because he used the hand that was still on the bat. That is crucial. In a Test match at Old Trafford in 1993 Graham Gooch played defensively at a ball from Merv Hughes which looped backwards and was about to hit the wicket. Gooch quickly took a hand off the bat and knocked the ball away with that hand. Dickie Bird correctly gave him out handled the ball. Thanks to Robert Anderson.

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